Speed. Obsession. Relentless customer focus. These are not just buzzwords for Cyrus Shirazi. They are the foundational principles behind Haven, the tax, accounting, and finance platform built for startups.
In just under a year, Haven has scaled to over 170 customers and surpassed $1.5M in revenue. But if you ask Cyrus how he is pulling it off, the answer is simple. He moves fast and surrounds himself with people who do the same.
“If you do not respond immediately, I am not bullish on you.”
That was the post that sparked a conversation about what truly separates great founders and operators from the rest. For Cyrus, response time is not just about efficiency. It is a direct reflection of commitment. Whether dealing with customers, investors, or partners, he believes obsession manifests in the smallest details. A fast response signals that you care. A delayed response suggests you are not all in.
This principle is not just a personal preference. It is a hiring filter. “The best people I have worked with, whether employees or partners, have that same obsessive nature. It is what makes them great.”
Cyrus believes that true entrepreneurs operate on a different wavelength. They are either fully locked in or they are just playing business. He shares a story about a friend who was handed a golden opportunity. Five paying customers were ready to go, but he turned it down for a personal event. That moment made something clear. Not everyone is built for the grind.
“You are either in or you are in the way.”
Surrounding yourself with people who match your intensity is non-negotiable. If you are moving at a high speed, operating with a sense of urgency, and prioritizing results, you need a network that does the same. Anything less slows you down.
A lot of first-time founders obsess over product. But Cyrus learned early on that growth, especially in B2B, is not just about what you build. It is about who you know. “The first million is not about having a perfect product. It is about forming alliances and increasing your luck surface area.”
Luck surface area is the idea that the more people you connect with in your industry, the more opportunities come your way. This is why networking, forming partnerships, and staying top of mind with potential customers is just as important as refining the product.
Haven is not just another bookkeeping or tax service. It is designed to be a complete financial operations platform for startups, handling everything from accounting and payroll tax registration to QSBS attestation. The insight that led to Haven came from founders who hated dealing with accountants that were slow, reactive, and inaccessible.
Cyrus had a firsthand experience with a CPA who ignored his requests. It became obvious that the market was hungry for a solution that prioritized speed and proactive service. With the help of his co-founder Scott Clark, who previously managed accounting for Lime’s global operations, Haven quickly became a go-to for startups looking for an all-in-one finance partner.
Cyrus is obsessed with making sure Haven is solving real problems. That means constantly talking to founders, whether they are current customers or just people in the ecosystem.
“You do not build in a vacuum. The best product ideas do not come from brainstorming in a room. They come from listening.”
Every new feature at Haven, from payroll tax automation to sales tax management, was developed because customers asked for it. Cyrus makes it a priority to stay directly connected to the customer base, ensuring that product decisions are always guided by real demand.
For Cyrus, the moment everything clicked was the day he decided to go all in on Haven. No backup plan. No hesitation. Just full commitment.
“There was something here. Let’s f*cking cook.”
That level of conviction is what separates the best founders from the rest. The ones who move fast, stay obsessed, and never lose touch with their customers are the ones who build lasting companies.
Haven’s rise is proof that obsession, speed, and customer focus win every time. If you are building something big, make sure you and your team are moving like it.
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